Tesla plans to reveal the next-generation Roadster on October 1, nine years after the prototype debuted, with a teaser suggesting the vehicle may incorporate SpaceX-developed cold gas thrusters enabling it to lift off the ground. The company showcased the electric hypercar under rocket-launch lighting with the caption “Go for launch.” While the initial 2017 prototype promised a $200,000 base price, 620 miles of range, a sub-two-second 0-60 mph acceleration, and a 250-plus-mph top speed, production has been repeatedly delayed, most recently to 2027 or 2028, according to Elon Musk. The upcoming reveal is expected to demonstrate a remotely operated, non-street-legal version of the car, potentially costing hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, as part of a limited track program.
The Information reported last month that the launch was imminent and that Tesla is planning two versions: a limited edition “flying Roadster” and a road-legal model. The demo vehicle will be operated remotely due to the noise and force of the SpaceX thrusters, and the initial “flying” demonstration has been scaled back from a more ambitious vision. Some early reservation holders, including Marques Brownlee and Sam Altman, have canceled their orders.
Tesla executives have long touted the Roadster as a pinnacle of automotive performance, with VP of Engineering Lars Moravy calling it the “last, best driver’s car” before the advent of self-driving technology. The company’s marketing has frequently linked Tesla and SpaceX, exemplified by Musk’s 2018 launch of a red Tesla Roadster into space on a Falcon Heavy rocket. The upcoming demonstration is intended to generate enthusiasm among customers and investors, though the timeline for actual production remains uncertain.
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